Narrative:

While working sector 40/39, with training being conducted on the d-side and me working the right, radar, side, an small transport X (non mode C) advised me that he wished to return to ocs VOR and descend to a lower altitude to enable him to remain in VMC conditions. When I looked at his target, small transport X had already reversed course and was in direct conflict with air carrier Y en route, same arwy, same altitude 12000'. I told the small transport X that he should advise me prior to turning off course. He requested a descent to 10000' and I told him to maintain 12000'. At this same moment, I turned small transport X to a 180 degree heading, and issued his traffic: '12 O'clock, approximately 6 mi, wbound at 120.' at this point, the supervisor in charge advised me to descend the aircraft immediately, which I did, to 11000'. Small transport X requested descent to 10000', so I descended the aircraft to 10000' and to 'report leaving 110.' the pilot immediately reported, 'leaving 110,' at which point I told the pilot to 'resume own navigation, ocs then V6, report reaching 100.' note: initially when the aircraft had requested to return to ocs, he had mentioned something about low temperature, which made me feel that he was worried about icing. My supervisor instructed me to ask the pilot if he was qualified for and capable of IFR flight, at which time the pilot responded, 'affirmative.' I then advised small transport X that he might be involved in a pilot deviation at 12000' and gave him our quality assurance office's phone # for further information, as instructed by my supervisor. Main contributing factors: WX and lack of experience from pilot. Corrective actions: more thorough knowledge of far's re: IFR flight on the pilot's behalf,as to what he can and can't do.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMT X HAD LESS THAN STANDARD SEPARATION FROM ACFT Y. PLT REVERSED COURSE WITHOUT CLRNC. PLT DEVIATION.

Narrative: WHILE WORKING SECTOR 40/39, WITH TRNING BEING CONDUCTED ON THE D-SIDE AND ME WORKING THE R, RADAR, SIDE, AN SMT X (NON MODE C) ADVISED ME THAT HE WISHED TO RETURN TO OCS VOR AND DSND TO A LOWER ALT TO ENABLE HIM TO REMAIN IN VMC CONDITIONS. WHEN I LOOKED AT HIS TARGET, SMT X HAD ALREADY REVERSED COURSE AND WAS IN DIRECT CONFLICT WITH ACR Y ENRTE, SAME ARWY, SAME ALT 12000'. I TOLD THE SMT X THAT HE SHOULD ADVISE ME PRIOR TO TURNING OFF COURSE. HE REQUESTED A DSCNT TO 10000' AND I TOLD HIM TO MAINTAIN 12000'. AT THIS SAME MOMENT, I TURNED SMT X TO A 180 DEG HDG, AND ISSUED HIS TFC: '12 O'CLOCK, APPROX 6 MI, WBOUND AT 120.' AT THIS POINT, THE SUPVR IN CHARGE ADVISED ME TO DSND THE ACFT IMMEDIATELY, WHICH I DID, TO 11000'. SMT X REQUESTED DSCNT TO 10000', SO I DSNDED THE ACFT TO 10000' AND TO 'RPT LEAVING 110.' THE PLT IMMEDIATELY RPTED, 'LEAVING 110,' AT WHICH POINT I TOLD THE PLT TO 'RESUME OWN NAV, OCS THEN V6, RPT REACHING 100.' NOTE: INITIALLY WHEN THE ACFT HAD REQUESTED TO RETURN TO OCS, HE HAD MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT LOW TEMP, WHICH MADE ME FEEL THAT HE WAS WORRIED ABOUT ICING. MY SUPVR INSTRUCTED ME TO ASK THE PLT IF HE WAS QUALIFIED FOR AND CAPABLE OF IFR FLT, AT WHICH TIME THE PLT RESPONDED, 'AFFIRMATIVE.' I THEN ADVISED SMT X THAT HE MIGHT BE INVOLVED IN A PLT DEV AT 12000' AND GAVE HIM OUR QUALITY ASSURANCE OFFICE'S PHONE # FOR FURTHER INFO, AS INSTRUCTED BY MY SUPVR. MAIN CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: WX AND LACK OF EXPERIENCE FROM PLT. CORRECTIVE ACTIONS: MORE THOROUGH KNOWLEDGE OF FAR'S RE: IFR FLT ON THE PLT'S BEHALF,AS TO WHAT HE CAN AND CAN'T DO.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.